Deep clean the car

You'll need to ensure no remnants are left from your car's old coating to ensure the ceramic coating product you're applying gets the gleaming shine you want. The best way to remove the old wax coating from your car is to rub it off using a clay bar. However, you'll need to cut the bar into smaller pieces.

The bar picks up every single wax particle from your car. That means any piece of clay bar you drop on the floor is essentially ruined. You'll also need some water for lubrication when rubbing it on your car's body, and folding it when it gets too dirty.

Paint correction

You see all those little swirl marks on your car because the light hits a sharp edge of the scratch. You'll need to buff out the scratch edges to eliminate these scratches without damaging your vehicle. Essentially, smoothing them out makes them invisible even under a light. To do that, you need a buffer to create a smooth surface.

Using the buffer

To start, squirt the rubbing compound on the car's surface you plan to buff. Some detailing professionals recommend putting dime-sized squirts of your rubbing compound on your pad, which will also work.

Before turning on the buffer, apply some of the rubbing compounds to your affected surface. You'll want to spread it evenly on your pad and the affected area you want to work on. After that, turn on your buffer with medium pressure, moving it slowly and in a circular motion. Decrease the pressure when the rubbing compound starts to dry.

Wipe the car

Now, wipe down your car to eliminate any hidden moisture that could damage your ceramic coating. You'll also need an isopropyl alcohol solution to give your car a final wipe-down, which ensures the surface isn't slippery for the coating to adhere properly.

After wiping down your car for the last time, the time-consuming part is over, and it's time for the application process to start. However, your vehicle will need to be free of oil, wax and other contaminants that might have left the polishing process might have left.

Start the finishing

Now that you're done with the hardest part (prepping your vehicle), time for the glassy ceramic coating to go on. However, this part requires precision, and it's advisable to apply the nano ceramic coating in a controlled space - 65 to 75 degrees.

After the prep work is done, shake the bottle of your ceramic matrix coating well and apply several drops on the applicator. Wipe the ceramic coating on a small area like three by three inches, using slightly overlapping straight lines.

When the applicator slides smoothly, you'll know you're applying a ceramic coating properly. You'll need to apply several more drops of your ceramic coating if the applicator is dragging.

After applying a ceramic coating, you'll notice the rainbow effect as it begins bonding your car's paint and drying off. Most ceramic coatings will turn hazy in less than 5 minutes, with high humidity or high temperature reducing the flash time to about a minute or two.

The final down

Wipe off the painted surface you've just applied your ceramic coating in a circular, but with less force. You'll need to inspect your work before you move on and repeat the process until your entire vehicle is ceramic-coated at least once. However, you don't need to stop there.

A single clear coat will serve you for years, but a second coat is worth the work if you're serious about your car's protection and having water drops slip off. Giving your car enough curing time is also crucial to the appearance and durability of the coating. Leave your vehicle for 48 hours without touching water to ensure it's fully cured.

Want to apply a ceramic coating on your car in Minneapolis? Talk to us

M&B Paint Correction is your go-to professional detailing car service that provides consistent results without the tricky and time-consuming prep work. Our car detailing professionals bring car owners in Minneapolis years of experience, delivering long-lasting protection and stain resistance from tree sap and road grime. Call (612) 868-1022 to get more than the bare minimum when looking to protect your vehicle's exterior!